Overview

Title

To authorize the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for costs directly associated with the removal and replacement of certain drinking water wells.

ELI5 AI

NASA is going to help a town in Virginia by giving it money to fix some wells that bring clean water. They need to make sure everything is planned out and tell some important people about it within a year and a half.

Summary AI

H.R. 1419, also known as the "Contaminated Wells Relocation Act," allows the Administrator of NASA to reimburse Chincoteague, Virginia, for expenses related to removing and replacing specific drinking water wells. This agreement, which can last up to five years, includes developing plans for relocating wells from NASA-managed land and setting up new wells on Chincoteague's land. The bill also requires NASA to present the agreement details, including estimated costs and locations, to certain Congressional committees within 18 months of the bill's enactment.

Published

2025-02-18
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-02-18
Package ID: BILLS-119hr1419ih

Keywords AI

nasa chincoteague drinking water wells contaminated wells relocation act federal reimbursement congressional oversight water infrastructure cost estimation jurisdictional overreach resource allocation

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
526
Pages:
3
Sentences:
11

Language

Nouns: 169
Verbs: 27
Adjectives: 19
Adverbs: 5
Numbers: 14
Entities: 45

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.61
Average Sentence Length:
47.82
Token Entropy:
4.55
Readability (ARI):
27.69

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The "Contaminated Wells Relocation Act," formally known as H. R. 1419, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with the intent to authorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for expenses involved in removing and replacing specific drinking water wells. These wells are currently located on NASA-managed property, and the bill allows for their relocation to a site under the control of Chincoteague. The agreement between NASA and the town can last for up to five years, and a report on the agreement must be submitted to Congress within 18 months.

Summary of Significant Issues

While the bill's primary goal is to resolve a local infrastructure issue by providing federal assistance, several potential issues arise:

  1. Perceived Favoritism: The bill focuses specifically on the Town of Chincoteague, which could imply favoritism, as other towns facing similar challenges might not receive federal help. This raises questions about equitable resource distribution.

  2. Role of NASA: There are questions regarding NASA's involvement in a water infrastructure project, given that NASA's typical purview includes space and aeronautics rather than ground utility concerns.

  3. Lack of Clear Criteria: The criteria for determining the reimbursement costs are not well defined in the bill. Ambiguity regarding how costs are evaluated could lead to financial misuses or disputes.

  4. Oversight Concerns: With an 18-month window allowed before requiring a report to Congress, there is potential for delayed oversight of the project’s progress and budget.

  5. Ambiguity of Terms: The bill's language regarding the project's logistics and cost estimates could result in misinterpretation, risking financial inefficiency or unexpected cost overruns.

Impact on the Public

The direct impact on the broader public may be limited, as the bill addresses a local issue in Virginia. However, it may set a precedent for how federal resources are allocated for local infrastructure projects, which could influence future legislation aimed at similar issues in other areas. Taxpayers might express concern over the allocation of federal funds for projects beyond NASA's traditional scope, considering the potential for a perceived mismanagement or inefficiency of public resources.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

  • Town of Chincoteague: The town stands to benefit directly from the bill, as it would alleviate financial burdens associated with relocating essential water infrastructure. It could improve the quality and reliability of local water supply, benefiting local residents and businesses.

  • NASA: Although tasked with the reimbursement process, NASA could face scrutiny over stretching its mandate into domains like water infrastructure, possibly impacting its focus and resources dedicated to space exploration missions.

  • Other Communities: Other towns with similar infrastructure issues might see this as a model to seek federal assistance, potentially prompting a wave of similar legislative proposals. This might exert pressure on federal bodies to establish clear criteria for assistance eligibility to ensure fair resource distribution.

Overall, while the bill serves a clear purpose for Chincoteague, the implications regarding fairness, NASA's role, and resource management highlight broader considerations for federal legislative practices.

Issues

  • The provision in Section 2 allowing NASA to reimburse only the Town of Chincoteague could be perceived as inequitable favoritism, as other towns with similar water infrastructure issues may not receive federal assistance, raising questions about fairness and equitable distribution of federal resources.

  • Section 2 raises questions about NASA's involvement in water infrastructure projects as opposed to its typical space and aeronautics missions, potentially leading to concerns about appropriate use of agency resources and jurisdictional overreach.

  • The bill in Section 2 does not clearly outline the criteria or process for determining and auditing reimbursement costs, which could lead to financial misuse or disputes regarding the allocation and justification of funds.

  • Section 2's allowance for up to 18 months before requiring submission of reimbursement agreements to Congress could delay oversight and raise accountability concerns about the expenditure of federal funds.

  • In Section 2, the terminology regarding 'removal and relocation of the three remaining wells' and 'current estimated cost' could lead to misinterpretation or ambiguity about the project's financial obligations and risk of cost overruns, necessitating clearer language to prevent mismanagement.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this bill provides its short title, which is the "Contaminated Wells Relocation Act."

2. Drinking water well replacement for Chincoteague, Virginia Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section allows NASA to work with the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, to cover the costs of removing and relocating drinking water wells from NASA's property to a new location controlled by the town. The agreement is detailed and requires reporting to relevant congressional committees within 18 months.